Box sealing machine



C. CHRISTIANSEN BOX SEALING MACHINE March 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 23, 1943 March 7, 1950 CHRISTIANSEN BOX SEALING MACHINE 2SheetS-Sheec 2 Filed April 23, 1943 Patented Mar. 7,- 1950 UNITED'STATESPATENT OFFICE BOX SEALING MACHINE Christian Christiansen, Swampscott,Mass.

Application April 23, 1943, Serial N0. 484,271

11 Claims. (Cl. 93-363) This invention relates to an improvement inmachines for pressing or sealing the glued ends of box blanks to theinfolded side tabs of the blanks to form boxes and boxcovers. Theinvention is used especially for sealing plain cardboard boxes of thetype commonly used as containers for shoes.

Boxes of this type are made from blanks which are cut to form a top orbottom surface, side walls having flaps adapted to be folded inwardly,and ends extending from the top or bottom surfaces which are adapted tobe folded up against infolded end flaps, folded over the tops of theflaps, and secured in position. The inner surfaces of the ends arecoated with glue and, after being held in the final position, arepressed against-the outer surfaces of the end flaps to form a tightbond.

The object of the present invention is to provide simpler, lighter andless expensive mechanism for pressing the ends, which have already beencoated with adhesive, against the flaps to form a strong, secure endwall for the box.

The present invention includes mechanism for applying pressureprogressively over the surfaces of the parts to which the glue hasalready been applied, the pressure applied being greater than the weightof the pressing means, and the progressive application of the pressurebeing adapted to squeeze out any surplus glue and to insure the properspreading and distribution of the glue during the bonding operation.

The nature and objects of the invention will best be understood from thefollowing description of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in theaccompanying drawings.

In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of a portion of themechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the position of the folded box blankwhen inserted into the machine.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one end of a partially folded box blank.7

Fig.7 is a perspective view of the pressing mechanism of the presentinvention during one phase of its operative movement.

Fig. 8 is a detail view in front elevation of a part of the machine ofFig. 1.

In-the drawings, a glue applying mechanism generally indicated at A issupported by a pair of arms I, l securedby bolts 2 to the top of a frame3 comprising a base 4 and upright side plates 5. This mechanism is morefully described and claimed in a co-pending application of the presentinventor, Serial No. 484,270, on which United States Letters Patent No.2,379,216 subsequently issued, which application was filedsimultaneously herewith, and forms no part of the present invention.

The pressing mechanism B is mounted at an angle on the frame 3 of themachine (see Fig. 1) to allow the operator to insert'box blanks easilyand quickly into the machine. In this mechanism, a bed 6 is providedwith lugs l and 8 secured to the frame 3 as by bolts 2 and 9. Secured tothe bed 6 as by bolts ID, are spaced parallel gear racks H. The bed '6is also adapted to receive and support, in the space provided thereforby said racks, an assembly comprising a fiat platen l2 adapted toprovide a rigid support for the inside of the box, and parallel guidesl3 secured, as by screws M, to the sides of the rear portion l5 of theplaten. The space between the racks H is wide enough to permit the bed 6to receive platens of varying sizes, the size chosen depending on thesize of the box blank upon which the machine is to operate at any giventime. The guides i3 are attached to the particular platen to be used,and the assembly is then placed in the bed 6 and secured thereto as bybolts I6. A portion of the bed 6 underlying the guides I3 is cut away toform slots indicated at 6a and 6b underlying the guides 13 to enable thesides of the folded box blank to slide inwardly over the edges of theplaten l2. Extending upwardly from the bed 6 are posts I! which bear ahead It having pairs of horizontal and vertical guide surfaces l9, l9and 20, 2!) respectively, formed thereon. Mounted within the frameformed by said bed 6 and head 18 is a reciprocably movable carriagecomprising end members 2| and 22 connected at the top by rods 23 and 24and at the bottom by a shaft 25 rotatably journalled in the end members.The

rods 23 and 24 each bear pairs of rolls 26 whichare adapted to followthe guide surfaces 29, 29. Extending upwardly from rods 23 and 24 areposts 2'! which carry rolls 28 which are adapted to follow the guidesurfaces I9, l9. The shaft 25 carries a segmental drum or rotary press29 on either end of which are secured, as by screws 39 and dowels 3i,the segmental gears 32 and 33 which are adapted to follow the racks H.The full weight of the drum 29 is not borne by the gear racks, or theplaten, however, as the drum rests upon the top surfaces 34 ofsupporting and guiding rails 35, 35 carried by the bed 6 adjacent theracks l l. The rails 35 and the racks I! may be integrally formed, asshown in Figs. 2 and 7. Since the rails do not allow the press to bearon the platen and the rolls 262t do not allow the press to rise, thepress is supported unyieldingly with its surface a distance from theplaten which is less than the thickness of the ele ments of the boxwhich are to be glued together.

The diameter of the segmental drum 25, as shown in Fig. 1, is not thesame as the pitch diameter of the segmental gears 32 and '33. Thisdifference in diameter causes the drum to be carried bodily forward andback over the platen with a wiping movement, due to the fact "that theforward movement given it by the carriage is not co-extensive with therotative peripheral movement given it by the gears. When the diameter ofthe drum is less than the pitch diameter of the gears, asillustrated inFig. 1, the wiping movement is in the direction of travel of the drum.

Secured to the rods 23 and 2'4 are two rearwardly extending bars 36and!!! bearing in their ends a cross rod 38 engaged by one end of a link39 pivoted at 10 to one or more links M pivoted at 42 to an upright 53supported by the base l. The link 39 is also pivoted at 49 to one ormore links 44 connected to the crank G on a crank shaft 46 journalled insuitable bearings in a standard 41 supported by the base d. Secured tothe crank shaft 46 is a pulley 4L8 adapted to be driven by a belt 59from a pulley ti! on a shaft 51 suitably journalled in a'support 52rising from the base 4. The shaft 5% also carries a large pulley 53adapted to be driven by a belt 54 from a pulley 55 secured to the shaft56 of a motor 5'! supported on an upright 58 rising from the base 4. Journaled in suitable bearings 59 on the base 4 of the frame is a shaft'65) to which is secured a starting pedal 6!, and secured at the end ofthe shaft 69 is an arm 52 pivoted to a link 63 pivotally connected atits other end to an arm 64 of a clutch mechanism (indicated at 55) ofany suitable and well known type for connecting the pulley 5!! with theshaft 5i.

The support or platen i2 is preferably formed with a transverse groove65 (Fig. 3) having two small grooves or indentations B? and 68 at eitherend thereof. The groove 66 is adapted to receive the-infolded portion 69of the end 72 (see Fig. 6) and the grooves 67 and 68 are adapted toreceive the two small reinforcing tabs of the box lank, thesegrooves-thusserving to compensate, during the pressing operation, forthe extra thickness formed by these parts.

In preparing the box for pressing, the operator applies glue to the end12 by the glue applying mechanism A, folds the side flaps ill inwardlyas shown in Fig. 6, brings the glued .end 12 up close against-the outersurfaces of the flaps ll and folds the flap 6 9 over the top of saidflaps ll and also over the reinforcing tabs it which extend from thesides of the blank. The posiion of the parts of the blank is then asshown in Figs. 4 and 5. The operator then inserts the folded blankbetween the guides l3 and pushes it forwardly into the machine (see Fig.7) until it fits completely over and upon the platen 52 in such mannerthat the inner surfaces of the flaps I! lie flat on the top surface ofthe platen l 2 and the infolded glued flap Sillies in the groove (it.When the folded blank is in this position, the

reinforcing tabs 10 lie directly over the grooves 6'5 and 68 formed inthe groove 66.

The operator then depresses the starting pedal 6! to start the machine,and, through the driving mechanism above described, the segmental drum29 is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 1 over the rails 35 which hold itproperly spaced from the platen, and the segmental gears 32 and 33follow the gear racks H. As the segmental drum advances, it rolls overand presses the folded layers of the box blank together so that theglued end 12 forms a tight seal with the outer surfaces of the flaps IIand the folded flap 59 forms a tight seal with the top part of the innersurfaces of the flaps H and seals in the small reinforcing tabs '10.Thedrum is not allowed to rise as it moves forwardly, since the carriagein which it is mounted must "follow the guides 29, 20 formed in the'headof the machine. Since the space between the peripheral surface of thedrum and the top surface of theplaten issubstantially constant, thepressure onthe folded glued blank may consequently be much greater thanthe weight of the drum. As the drum moves forwardly it presses downwardupon and squeezes at any one time only a small additionalportion .of theblank held between the drum and the platen. -Consequently, .the area ofthe blank which offers resistance to the pressing means is smallat anygiven time and the amount of force required for pressing is far lessthan that which would be required for pressing the whole surface atonce. The-forwardmovement of the .drum also serves to spread the -glueevenly as :it progresses, any excess-glue beingpushed. ahead of .thedrum, and anydry spots being ..covered.

When the diameterof .the drum. is smaller. than the pitch diameter ofthe gears, .as illustrated in Fig. 1, thedrum is'dragged along bodily aswell as-being rotated. The peripheral surface .of the drum, therefore,is-not onlypressed downwardly on the surface-of the-boxblank as it isturned, but is also given a wiping motion. This serves to loosen anyglue that may have become stuck on the drum or platen. It'also in aeffect irons the surface of the blank and so-aids in bonding the parts.

Since the degree of pressure applied to the blank is not determined bythe weight of the drum, the drum can'be made'as light as is consistentwithrthe proper degree of strength, and since the pressure isprogressively applied to a small part of 'the blank, themachine as awhole need not be constructed from the heavy parts heretofore used inpressing operations in which the pressure is applied to the entiresurface or to a substantial portion of thesurface of the blank at onetime. Both because of the squeezing action due to the forwardrectilinear movement of the'drum between the fixed support and head ofthe pressing mechanism,'and because of the progressive applicationofpressure, the machine of the present invention weighs hardly one'third.as much as the usual-type-of pressing machines now in' use. Thelightnessof its construction and the pressing of small portions of theblank at any one time allow the machine to-operate on approximately onefifth of the power formerly used, make for far quieter operation of thepress, and practically eliminate shock or jar-during opera.- tion. Itis, therefore, not necessary to use the machine on specially reinforcedflooring, a matter which is particularly important at the present time,when the difliculty intransporting ready-touseboxes from the .factoryhas.ledto the pracof insecurely glued boxes which have to be discarded.

I claim:

1. A device for sealing under high pressure folded glued flaps of boxblanks and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary press having anarcuate pressing surface, a rigid pressureresisting frame, means forguiding said press in an undeviating rectilinear path through saidframe, means for giving said press a rotary and a reciprocatingrectilinear movement, a platen secured in said frame having a pressingsurface spaced from the arcuate pressing surface of said pressthroughout said path a distance less than the normal thickness of theblank to be pressed thereon, and means for admitting a blank to saidplaten with one side thereof held fiat against the top surface of saidplaten.

2. A device for sealing under high pressure folded glued flaps of boxblanks and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary press having anarcuate pressing surface, a frame having spaced members secured to eachother against relative displacement by pressure created between them,means for guiding said press in an undeviating rectilinear path throughsaid frame, means for giving said press a rotary and a reciprocatingrectilinear movement, a platen secured in said frame having a pressingsurface spaced from the arcuate pressing surface of said pressthroughout said path a distance less than the normal thickness of theblank to be pressed thereon, and means for admitting a blank to saidplaten with one side thereof held flat against the top surface of saidplaten, the rotary rectilinear movement of the press between thenon-yielding members and over the side of the folded blank exerting asqueezing forward pressure on the upper surface thereof which serves tospread the glue evenly and uniformly ahead of the point of pressure andto bond the remainder securely with the material of the blank.

3. A pressure sealing device adapted to press the folded glued flaps ofbox blanks under compression comprising, in combination, a frame havingspaced members secured to each other against relative displacement bypressure created between them, a rotary press mounted in said frame forreciprocal linear movement, means on one of said members for supportingthe weight of said press, means for reciprocally moving said press,means for rotating the press during reciprocal movement thereof, aplaten for supporting a box blank held unyieldingly on the spaced memberon which said press supporting means are placed, means on the othersupporting member for causing said rotary press to bear constantly onits supporting means, and means on said platen for admitting a blankwith one side thereof held flat against the pressure receiving surfaceof said platen.

4. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 3 in whichsaid rotary press is carried by a carriage guided between said spacedmembers in an undeviating rectilinear path.

5. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 3 in whichthe rotary press is a segmental drum.

6. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 3 in whichthe means for giving said rotary press an undeviating rectilinearmovement include a carriage for said press, supporting rails for saidpress mounted on one of said pressure resisting members and adapted tohold said press throughout its path of rectilinear movement a givenminimum distance from the platen, and cooperating means on said carriageand the other pressure resisting member adapted to cause said rotarypress to follow said rails without deviation therefrom.

7. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 2 in whichsaid pressure resisting members are provided with spaced parallel meansfor guiding said rotary press and causing it to follow an undeviatingrectilinear path.

8. A device for sealing glued box blanks as defined in claim 2 in whichsaid rotary press is provided with gears and one of said pressureresisting members is provided with cooperating gear racks.

9. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said press has a segmentaldrum provided with segmental gears on either end thereof, and one ofsaid pressure resisting members is provided with gear racks adapted torotate said segmental drum as it is given rectilinear movement.

/ 10. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said rotary press isprovided with gears and one of said pressure resisting members isprovided with gear racks adapted to rotate said press as it is givenrectilinear movement, and said rotary press has an arcuate surface witha diameter that is different from the pitch diameter of said gears, sothat linear movement of said press during its rotative movement wipes apart of said arcuate surface over the blank being pressed.

11. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said rotary press has gearsat either end thereof and one of said spaced members is provided withspaced parallel gear racks adapted to cooperate with said gears, andsaid gears have a pitch diameter that is greater than the diameter ofthe arcuate surface of said rotary press.

CHRISTIAN CHRISTIANSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 71,929, Walker Dec. 10, 1867463,592 Bacon Nov. 17, 1891 469,632 Ethridge et a1 Feb. 23, 1892 659,398Johnson et al. Oct. 9, 1900 659,399 Johnson et al Oct. 9, 1900 808,806Barnett Jan. 2, 1906 906,329 Stimpson et a1 Dec. 8, 1908 992,461Vandercook May 16, 1911 1,166,016 Smith Dec. 28, 1915 1,519,129 GautierDec. 16, 1924 ,527,796 Hammer Feb. 24, 1925 1,703,849 Winkley Feb. 26,1929 3 I-Iueber Jan. 11, 1938 ,1 ,977 Knowlton Jan. 16, 1940

